Bag-fastener.



WITNESSES: I/WEA? a 1 Y ,4 W 1 I I I M4. WW

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT orr cn.

FRANZ A. FULLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. E. MERGOTT COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BAG-FASTENER.

Application filed April 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ A. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag- Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make, construct, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referonce marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

In the use of bags, pocket books, and the like much difficulty has been encountered in overcoming the objection raised by those who use such articles, to the spreading of the bag frame members when the contents of such bag or pocket book are such as to so distend the sides as to make the closing of the bag or pocket book diiiicult. The principal objection arises from the fact that as ordinarily constructed, but a single catch or look is provided in the center of the bag frame members for holding the same together, leaving the ends of the frame to be sprung apart by overcrowding the interior of the bag, with resulting annoyance and loss. In order to eliminate these evils and overcome these objections, I have devised a new look, which has all the advantages of manipulation of a center lock, and yet combines with it, the feature of locking the bag frame at two points, said lock being designed to co-act with the ordinary lock for preventing accidental loosening or unfastening of the same.

The object of this invention is to pro- Vide the ordinary bag frame which has secured to each one of its hinged frame members a catch member designed for mutual cooperation and to engage with each other for holding said frame members together, with a sliding locking device which is secured to one of the frame members and which engages with one of the aforesaid catch members for additionally holding said catch members together, and which is operated independently from said catch members.

In carrying out my invention, I make use Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

1912. Serial No. 690,093.

of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bag frame having applied thereto my improved bag fastener. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged side elevation of my improved fastener. Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary plan view of the hinged members, illustrating the bag fastener secured thereto and showing part of one of the catch members broken away; and Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary enlarged transverse section taken on lines mm of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

A bag frame fastener made in accordance with my invention, may be applied to any ordinary or desired form of frame. That shown in the drawings, consists of the two hinged members a and I) of substantially the same shape shown in Fig. 1. To the middle portions of these frame members a and 7), I secure the fasteners or catches 0 and d substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4, or in any other convenient or desired manner. The fasteners or catches a and rZ are substantially identical in shape, and a desorip tion of one will suflice for both.

I Each fastener is made up of the rigid base 6 provided with the upwardly and angularly extending knob f. The base 6 is provided on its under side which comes in contact with the frame member when the same is secured thereto with integral nibs g, which are inserted through the apertures common in bag frames, and riveted down in the usual manner to secure the fastener rigidly to the frame. WVith this construction, the'two hinged frame members a and Z) always come together with a very pronounced snap, due to the spring of the hinged members a and b. In my improved device, I provide a second locking device for additionally holding the jaws together, which locking device is preferably secured to the frame member I), and is operated iiidependently of the fastener c and (Z. In the specific form illustrated, I employ a chambered cap 71,, which is secured to the bag frame by a pair of integral tongues common in caps of this type, which are inserted through apertures in the bag frame member 6, andclenched over in any suitable or convenient manner. The chambered cap h, as illustrated, is provided upon both sides with corresponding and alined notches j, for the reception of the sliding locking device is, which locking device is adapted to engage with the catch member secured to the frame member a. Slidably secured within the chamber of the cap h is the locking member is, one end of which projects outside of the chambered cap, and terminates in an operating knob Z, the other end projecting outside of the chambered cap on the other side thereof, said end being formed into a hook or clip m, designed to have locking engagement with the catch member 0 which is secured to the frame member a.

n represents a flat spring formed integral with the frame member 6 by piercing the metal thereof and projecting it upward, so that it will bear upon the under side of the locking member is, thereby preventing said locking member from becoming accidentally disengaged from the catch member when in engagement therewith and in locked posi' tion, or when the same is disengaged from said locking member.

Experience has demonstrated that the organization above described is a highly efiicient one, and while the device described is the preferred embodiment of my present invention, I do not care to restrict myself to the exact details of construction, combination, and arrangement herein set forth, it being obvious that minor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention may be made by any skilled mechanic and such departures from what is herein described Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the Washington, D. 0.

and claimed not involving invention, I consider as within the scope and terms of my claims. 7

I claim:

1. In combination, two frame members movable relatively to each other, interlocking catch members carried by said frame members, of a slidably secured locking device secured to one of said frame members for engagement with one of said interlocking catch members.

2. In combination, two frame members movable relatively to each other, interlocking catch members carried by said frame members, a chambered cap secured to one of said frame members, a single locking member slidably secured within said cap, said locking member being provided with an engaging element adapted to have locking engagement with one of said catch members and a spring formedintegral with one of said frame members for engagement with said locking member.

3. In a lock for Satchels, the combination with a satchel having a pair of interlocking clasping members for normally holding said satchel closed, of a locking member secured to said satchel, a chambered cap mounted 'on said satchel, a single spring-pressed locking member slidably secured within said cap, said locking member being further provided with an engaging element adapted to have locking engagement with one of said clasping members.

This specification signed and witnessed thisfith. day of April, 1912.

FRANZ A. FULLER.

Witnesses FREDK. C. FISCHER,

CLIFFORD A. ALLISTON.

"Commissioner of Patents, 

